San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-01-07
Sewers and Other improvements


Artstocracy."
Sewers and Other Improvements.
Editor San Antonio Light.
The coming city election is, In many
respects, decidedly the most important
one, 80 far as future prosperity IL con-
cerned, ever held here. San Antonio
will be ''in the nine hole" unless the
much needed improvements shall. be
prosecuted with vigOr. These improve
menrs cannot be longer delayed without
seriously retarding the growth OF the
city, a fact worthy Of the earnest con-
sideration OF every citizen who has the
welfare of the city at heart. San An.
tonic Is now city with population OF
40 OOO and must necessarily have the
sanitary measures demanded by its pop
ulation. People wishing to locate here,
naturally inquire as 10 the steps that
have been taken to maintain cleanliness
and prevent malarial diseases, and find
ing that there are no sewers and scarcely
any surface drainage, they decline TO
settle here. Thus both population and
| capital are diverted from San Antonio.
1t is not time for mealy mouthedness
on this most vitality important matter.
The time and the urgency Of the case
demand plain words plainly spoken.
Business men and real estate owners
must carefully consider the necessity
that exists for increased attention TO
sanitation. They must give due weight
TO the painfully apparent stagnation In
the sale OF real estate as well as the
equally apparent falling off in the price
OF real estate. TO put an end TO this
state of things is a matter which vitality
concerns every citizen. How can this
state of things be changed for the bet
terp | reply by system OF sewerage
and street Improvement, by an adequate
surface drainage and by removing the
mill dams In the city, supplemented by a
thorough cleansing Of every lot. Many
lots are lower than the street and re.
quire to be fl led and raised so that the
water falling on them. can run of In
stead OF, as Is now the case. forming
ponds Of stagnsnt water. "What is
worth doing. is worth doing we'll" Is
literally true In the matter OF sanitation.
Temporary eXpedients and makeshifts
are more costly than proper improve
IN, nts systematically prosecuted.
Il will not be d sputed that the ex-
ppndIIure of a million OF dollars In sew
erag- and street improvements would
throw that sum into active circulation in
the CITY, SUu give u uOOn W OubliCse 90
well MS work TO hundreds now In en-
forced idleness. This money would find
It's way into the pockets of the mer-
chants. grOoers aud landlords 10 the
city. As it would be borrowed upon
bonds sold in Boston or New York, this
million of dollars would be clear add
tion to the money already In circulation,
in itself no inconsiderable gain to our
CITY, This would give a fresh impulse
10 the transfer of real estate and enliven
trade so much for its direct and imme-
diate effect on our city. Its second try
effect would be to notify the world OF
the demise Of mossbackism and that the
citizens were resolved not to be dis
tanced In the race OF Improvement. Men
of enterprise and vim like TO settle In
live city full of the spirit of improve
ment, but they avoid a city suff-ring
from the incubus OF mossbackism and
anIl-DrOgressivenes
1t really appears to me to be a useless
consumption of time and space to enter
upon an argument TO prove that sewer
age and street improvements would
draw populatiou and capital to San An
tonic AS well as attract crowds of seek
ers after health. It would almost be an
insult 10 the common sense OF your read
ers 10 consider sucn an argument neces-
sary.
How shall these improvements be Sc
cureu?
In reply, by borrowing a million Of
dollars upon twenty year bonds, half to
be,-xpended in sewers and halfin street
improvements,
The olty charter should be so
changed as to authorize the mayor
and council to borrow a million
of dollars without submitting the
matter TO a vote of the tax-payeFs. but
after this million of dollars TO be used
for specitic object shall have been Dor
rowed. the Major and Council should
he prohibited from borrowing more than